Football guard



J. P. TAYLOR FOOTBALL GUARD Sept. 1 O, 1935.

Filed Nov. 14, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l .HHHH:

ATTORNE Sept. 10, 1935.

J. P. TAYLOR FOOTBALL GUARD 3- Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1932 FIG.

INVENTOR- JHMES P. TFIYL OR.

ATT Y J. P. TAYLOR FOOTBALL GUARD Sept. 10, '1935.

Filed Nov. 14, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG 5 I I I I I II I I sa -"1' I I I I I I I I I I [-76.9 I

1 INVENTOR JHNE'S Patented Sept. 10, 1935 r orri 2 Claims.

This invention relates to protectors for football players, its primary object being to safeguard the breaking of bones.

The principle employed in the invention is that of absorbing the shock and, in a limited manner,

distributing the force of the shock and again absorbing it.

A further principle employed is to protect some of the more exposed body bones from the duty of resisting all shock whatsoever by utilizing a bridgingaction to distribute the force of the shock to localities on the body spaced away from such a surface bone as the collar bone.

In carrying out this objective, the inner wall of shock absorbing resilient material is cut away along the locality of the collar bone, and the opening left by the cut-out is bridged by means of stiff bridges which in turn are overlaid with an outer wall of shock absorbing material.

In functioning generally as a protector, the outer wall of shock absorbing resilient material partially absorbs the received blow which, before it can be imparted to the body of the player, is automatically distributed over a minimum area by means of the bridges, which in turn deliver the force over such minimum area on the outer face of the inner wall of shock absorbing resilient material which absorbs all of the remaining dangerous part of the force, the reaction required of the body being so distributed and of such minimum amount as to prevent injury to the player.

At the localities where bones are near the surface, the bridges are arranged so as to carry none of the force of the blow directly to the locality of the surface bone, but to distribute it to the portions of the body on opposite sides of the bone.

The above will be pointed out more particularly in the following claims which are directed to an illustrative embodiment of the invention described in the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. This illustrative embodiment is set forth solely for purposes of illustration and not limitation.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front view in diagrammatic perspective of a shoulder guard embodying the invention, the interior parts being shown in the left and rear of the figure in dotted lines, it being understood that symmetrically disposed interior parts exist in the construction shown at the right; Fig. 2 is a fractional top view drawn to an enlarged scale with the outer wall removed, showing the localized construction at the locality of the collar bone; Fig. 3 is a crosssection along the vertical center plane for the top right shoulder butembodying the outer layer for the specialbridgesy Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a shin guard embodying the invention; and '5"- Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section through the shin guard.

In the shoulder protector, a yoke A is preferably formed which may be secured by lacing l to maintain its position about the upper body portion. Shoulder caps 2 and 2' are formed preferably separate from the yoke A and are hingedly secured thereto by the outer wall structures 3 and 3, it being understood that the entire built up structure is preferably shaped to conform to 15 the body shape and size and is a permanent construction. Throughout all the protector there is provided an inner wall 4 of shock absorbing resilient material such as foam rubber, an outer wall 5 of the same shock absorbing material, and 20 between these walls, laterally spaced from each other and extending in appropriate directions for the distribution of force applied from without, are bridges 6 formed preferably of short lengths of half round sections of stiff cane. Advantage 25 may be taken of the direction of these bridges to permit flexing of the combining wall constructions to accommodate necessary bending of the body. The inner face of the inner wall is protected by a lining of skin rubber 1 cemented to 30 the foam rubber, and a layer of chamois 8 preferably overlies the bridges, the interstices between which bridges may be filled by a third or medium layer 9 of foam rubber. The outer wall of the entire protector is likewise preferably protected 35 by an overlie of skin rubber II). All the parts are cemented or vulcanized one to the other.

At the locality overlying the collar bone, the main portion of the protector is cut away or cut out to form the rectangular cut-out or pocket I I. 40 Across this cut-out is fixed a series of stiff bridges l2 laterally spaced from each other and firmly secured on their fiat faces to the ledges l3 and I4 and i5 and I6. The ledges l3 and M are a part of the yoke proper, while the ledges I5 and it are 45 a part of the shoulder cap proper, the plane of severance being indicated by II. A supplemental outer wall of foam rubber completely covers the bridges like a blanket, its outer rims extending beyond the bridges and being secured directly to 50 the main outer wall 5. It is also preferred that a bridging sheet IQ of chamois be interposed between the bridges and this outer wall 18, and if desired, the spaces between the bridges may be filled with foam rubber 20. This shoulder con- 55 struction at the locality 2'! serves as a resilient hinge for the shoulder caps.

In Fig. 4 the shin guard B has the inner wall of foam rubber lined by the skin rubber 1B, and the outer wall overlaid by skin rubber 10. Between these two walls are lengthwise disposed bridges of any light, stiff material such as half round cane. These cane bridges are laterally spaced, are preferably parallel, and are bound together by a chamois layer 15, the interstices being filled with a filling of foam rubber 76, if desired. 7

It is to be understood that all necessary straps and buckles or laces are to be provided for securing the protectors about the part to be protected.

In addition to the functioning features of my invention, it is well to emphasize the extreme lightness of the entire protector which is an advantage and does not impair the shock absorbing protective features. Perhaps too much importance can not be directed to the new way in which I have protected against blows. In no case do I provide an extensive unyielding outer wall. I have found that such construction is totally incapable of conforming to the body contour and results in what amounts to point contact within such an outer shell so that instead of doing a useful function, it accomplishes the harmful function of conveying all the force of a blow to a point on the body. In my construction, all of the protector flexes or hinges to conform to body movement, and upon the receipt of a blow, first yields on the exterior and then distributes the blow just enough to utilize a sufficient area of the inner shock absorber to insure less than the maximum permissible pressure per square inch on the body. It is my theory that a protector should be a protector for a player in action and not one in repose like a store window dummy upon which we often see a good fitting suit of clothes totally incapable of fitting a moving human figure.

What I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A shoulder guard for football players comprising an inner wall of substantial thickness of shock absorbing resilient material such as foam rubber, provided with cut-outs adapted to overlie body surface bones such as the collar bones; a series of stifi relatively short bridges laterally spaced from each other bridging across said outout portions and firmly attached to the outer face of said inner wall; an outer wall of shock absorbing resilient material spanning said bridges and secured thereto.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by the fact that other portions of said protector, in addition to said inner wall, comprise laterally spaced overlying stiff bridges, which in turn are overlaid with an outer wall of shock absorbing resilient material.

JAMES P. TAYLOR. 

